Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40423739›Full record

ArticleStem cell reviews and reports2025

Transcriptome Profiling of Trabecular Meshwork Progenitor Cells.

Xiaochen Fan, Stephanie Kennedy, Emine K Bilir, Brian Lane, Olivia A Kingston, Xu Chen, Victoria R Kearns, Colin E Willoughby, Carl M Sheridan

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Stem cell reviews and reports, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Xiaochen FanDepartment of Eye and Vision Science, Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom.ORCID 0000-0002-7116-2846
Stephanie KennedyDepartment of Eye and Vision Science, Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom.
Emine K BilirDepartment of Eye and Vision Science, Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom.
Brian LaneDepartment of Eye and Vision Science, Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom.
Olivia A KingstonDepartment of Eye and Vision Science, Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom.
Xu ChenDepartment of Eye and Vision Science, Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom.
Victoria R KearnsDepartment of Eye and Vision Science, Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom.
Colin E WilloughbyDepartment of Eye and Vision Science, Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom.
Carl M SheridanDepartment of Eye and Vision Science, Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom. carlos@liverpool.ac.uk.ORCID 0000-0003-0100-9587

Funding

MRC Discovery Medicine North (DiMeN) Doctoral Training Partnership MR/R015902/1Republic of Turkey Ministry of National Education Republic of Turkey Ministry of National Education
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The loss and dysfunction of trabecular meshwork (TM) cells are implicated in aging and primary open-angle glaucoma. TM progenitor cells (TMPCs) contribute to the population and function of the TM, but their identity is not well elucidated. This study aimed to identify the expression profile of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in human TM cell cultures, TM-derived spheres, and their differentiated progeny. Primary normal human TM cells (PTM) from three donors were cultured, de-differentiated into spheres, and re-differentiated into TM cells (DTM). RNA-Seq was performed using Illumina NGS, and bioinformatics analysis was conducted with Tuxedo, Bowtie2, Tophat, Cufflinks, and Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA). DEGs were validated via Nanostring, RT-qPCR (in five independent donors), immunocytochemistry, and western blotting. RNA-seq identified significant DEGs in PTM, TM progenitor cells (TMPCs), and DTM cells. Gene expression in TMPCs differed significantly from PTM and DTM cells. Nanostring and RT-qPCR confirmed 70 DEGs upregulated in TMPCs (P < 0.05). Immunocytochemistry highlighted distinct markers in TMPCs (SOX2, NOTCH1, ANKG, MGP) versus PTM and DTM cells (TAGLN, TEM7, SPARC). Western blotting further analyzed MGP, TAGLN, and SPARC proteins, revealing significant upregulation of MGP in TMPCs and downregulation of TAGLN and SPARC in spheres compared to PTM cells. Pathway analysis revealed activation of cell cycle checkpoint regulation, SUMOylation, and STAT3 pathways in TMPCs, with HGF, MMP9, KDR, IGF1, and FOS as key node genes in TMPC development. RNA-Seq identified novel expression profile of potential TM markers and activated pathways in TMPCs, providing insights into TMPC behaviours in physiological and pathological conditions.

Indexed as

Gene Expression ProfilingStem CellsTrabecular MeshworkTranscriptomeCell DifferentiationCells, CulturedHumansCell DifferentiationPrimary open-angle glaucomaProgenitor CellsRNA-SeqTrabecular Meshwork

Identifiers

PMID40423739
PMCPMC12356736

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.